Web heating apparatus



@y 23, 1%? H. W. PARQLQW 9 97 WEB HEATING APPARATUS Filed June 16, 1.964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

HAROLD W. PARSILOW Ji BY A T TOR/VEVS y 3y 1%? H. w. PARSLOW 3,321,197

WEB HEATING APPARATUS Filed June 16, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet ATTORNEYS May 23, 1967 H. w. PARSLOW WEB HEATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 16, 1964 INVENTOR. HAROLD W. PARSLOW ay 239 1%? H. w. PARSLOW 9 3 WEB HEATING APPARATUS Filed June 16, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 u', m F 9 m a- La] E D g 5 //Vl/E/V7OR HAROLD W PARSLOW ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,321,197 WEB HEATING APPARATUS Harold W. Parslow, Utica, Mich, assignor to The R. C. Malian Company, Warren, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed June 16, 1964, Ser. No. 375,619 12 Claims. (Cl. 263-3) This invention relates to a web heating apparatus and particularly to an apparatus for heating a web for purposes of conditioning the web.

In the manufacture of fabrics such as nylon fabrics utilized for reinforcement in tires, it is conventional to move the web in a predetermined path and subject it to heat in order to condition the web. In such continuous web manufacture, it is not uncommon for malfunctions in the manufacturing operations to cause a slowing down of the movement of the web. In such cases, the heat from the heating units scorches the web and makes portions thereof unusable for their intended use, thereby resulting in waste.

It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus which will reduce the heating action on the web in the event the speed of the web lessens.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a web heating apparatus that is responsive to web movement to reduce the heating action on the web as the speed of the web lessens and to increase the heating action on the web when the speed of the web increases.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a web heating apparatus wherein a plurality of radiant heating units are provided that are successively moved out of or into heating relation with the web in accordance with the variations in web speed.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a web heating apparatus embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view viewed from the left in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are fragmentary views on an enlarged scale of portions of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, parts being shown in different operating position.

FIG. 5 is a partly diagrammatic view of a web making apparatus incorporating the web heating apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the control system for the web heating apparatus embodying the invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the web heating apparatus embodying the invention is adapted to be used along a portion of the path of a web W which is being moved con-. tinuously and is maintained under tension in accordance with the manufacturing method. The apparatus embodying the invention is positioned on opposite sides of the web and comprises substantially identical units 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each unit 10 comprises a housing 11 which is substantially closed and has openings 12 adjacent the web. A- radiant heating unit 13, such as an infra-red gas burner, is rotata'bly mounted adjacent each opening 12 so that the heating surface S thereof may be rotated from a position adjacent opening 12 for heating the web to a position away from the opening 12 so that the heat will not be directed toward the Web.

In accordance with the invention, as the speed of the web W lessens, the burners 13 are successively moved out of heating relation to the web to thereby prevent damage to the web.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, the successive tilting of the burners 13 toward and away from the web is achieved by an endless chain 14 which is trained over sprockets 15, 16 and is driven by a motor M in response to the change in speed of the web. A lever 17 is fixed of the apparatus as on each burner unit 13 and projects into the path of a pin element 18 on the chain 14.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lever 17 includes inclined surfaces 19, 20 that converge toward a slot 21. If the speed of the Web W lessens, as presently described, the chain 14 is driven to move the pin. 18 downwardly (FIGS. 1 and 5) and cause the pin 18 to engage the slot 21 and swing the lever 17 clockwise (FIG. 4) tilting the uppermost burner 13 away from the opening 12. If the speed of the web W continues to lessen, chain 14 is driven further to move the pin 18 downwardly into engagement with the next succeeding lever 17 swinging the next burner away from the web W. Chain 14 will continue to move until the pin 18 swings the required number of burners away from the web to prevent damage to the web. In the event that the web W is completely stoped in its movement, the chain 14 will move to a point where all of the burners have been swung out of heating position.

As the speed of the web W increases, the chain 14 will be driven in the opposite direction causing the pin 18 to move upwardly as shown in FIG. 4 and engage the slot 21 to swing the lever 17 counterclockwise and bring the burner into heating position. As the speed of the web W increases, the chain 14 will continue to be driven and move the pin 18 upwardly to successively swing each of the radiant heating units back into heating position.

In order to minimize the need for insulation and reduce the heat that would be concentrated in the hous ing 11 when the heating units are out of heating position, an air inlet 25 is provided adjacent the lower end of the housing controlled by damper 26 and an air out let 27 is provided adjacent the upper end of the housing to produce a natural draft through the housing.

In order to hold each heating unit in heating position or out of heating position, a spring loaded detent 22 is provided for engagement with notches 23, 24 on a hub 25 on the lever 17. When each heating unit is in heating position, detent 22 engages notch 23. When each heating unit is out of heating position, detent 22 engages notch 24 (FIG. 4).

Referring to FIG. 8, the apparatus for controlling the movement of the chain 14 is of electrical bridge design and comprises a direct current voltage generator 30 which is driven by one of the rollers R along which the web W is trained. At the normal operating speed of the web W, the voltage generator 30 produces a predetermined voltage. If however the speed of the web W lessens, the voltage produced decreases causing the bistable amplifier 31 to energize a relay 32 driving the chain 14 in the direction to swing the radiant heating units away from the web. As the chain 14 is driven, it causes the wiper 35 to move along the potentiometer 36 by a chain drive 37 (FIG. 1) until there is a balance with the voltage generated by the voltage generator 30. At this point, the' relay will be tie-energized stopping the movement of the chain 14. If the speed of the web again increases, a voltage unbalance will occur at potentiometer 36 in the opposite direction and will energize a second bistable amplifier 37 to in turn energize a reverse relay 38 for driving the chain 14 in the reverse direction. This movement will continue until the wiper 35 has moved to a position wherein there is a voltage balance between the voltage generated by voltage generator 30 and the voltage across the potentiometer 36. The degree of drive of the chain 14 in either direction will depend upon extent of the voltage differential.

As shown in FIG. 2, pipe means 40 can be provided for igniting the burners 13 after they have been completely turned off in the event of complete stoppage of the web W which causes de-energization of a solenoid valve 41. When the web again starts, solenoid valve 41 opens a valve in the lines 42 supplying burners 13 from header 43 so that the continuous flame from the pilot line 40 will permit the burners to re-ignite.

It can thus be seen that there has been provided an apparatus for controlling the heating of a web in response to the speed of web movement by moving heating units successively out of and into heating position in response to the speed of movement of the web.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for heating a'web as it is moved continuously, the combination comprising a plurality of radiant heating units mounted on opposite sides of said web,

means for mounting each heating unit for movement from a heating position adjacent the web to a nonheating position,

means responsive to the movement of the web for successively and selectively engaging said heating units and moving said heating units out of heating relation with the web as the speed of the web lessens and for successively and selectively engaging and moving said heating units to return them to heating position as the speed of the web increases,

said last-mentioned means including endless flexible means,

and interengaging means on said endless flexible means for successively engaging portions of said heating units.

2. In an apparatus for heating a web as it is moved continuously, the combination comprising a plurality of radiant heating units,

means for mounting each heating unit for movement from a heating position adjacent the web to a nonheating position,

means responsive to the movement of the web for successively and selectively engaging said heating units and moving said heating units out of heating relation with the web as the speed of the web lessens and for successively and selectively engaging and moving said heating units to return them to heating position as the speed of the web increases,

said last-mentioned means including endless flexible means,

and interengaging means on said endless flexible means for successively engaging portions of said burners.

3. In an apparatus for heating a web as it is moved continuously, the combination comprising a plurality of radiant heating units mounted on opposite sides of said web,

means for mounting each heating unit for movement from a heating position adjacent the web to a nonheating position,

means responsive to the movement of the web for successively engaging said heating units and moving said heating units out of heating relation with the web as the speed of the web lessens and for successively engaging and moving said heating units to return them to heating position as the speed of the web increases,

said last mentioned means including endless flexible means,

and interengaging means on said endless flexible means for engaging portions of said heating units,

said interengaging means comprising a projection on each said heating unit,

said projection having a slot therein,

and means on said flexible means engaging said slot and swinging said heating unit into and out of heating relation as the flexible means is moved in opposite directions.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said radiant heating units comprise burners, a housing surrounding said burners on each side of said web and having openings therein adjacent said web,

said burners facing said openings when in heating position,

and means for inducing a flow of air through said housing to supply secondary combustion air to said burners and cool said burners.

5. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said means responsive to said movement of said web includes electrical bridge means.

6. The combination set forth in claim 3 including a spring loaded detent adapted to engage complementary notches for holding each burner in its heating and non- -heating positions.

7. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said projection has inclined surfaces extending inwardly toward the slot therein.

8. In an apparatus for heating a web as it is moved continuously, the combination comprising a plurality of radiant heating units, means for mounting each heating unit for movement from a heating position adjacent the web to a nonheating position, means responsive to the movement of the web for successively engaging said heating units and moving said heating units out of heating relation with the web as the speed of the web lessens and for successively engaging and moving said heating units to return them to heating position as the speed of the web increases,

said last mentioned means including endless flexible means,

and interengaging means on said endless flexible means for engaging portions of said burners,

said interengaging means comprising a projection on each said burner,

said projection having a slot therein,

and means on said flexible means engaging said slot and swinging said burner into and out of heating relation as the flexible means is moved in opposite directions.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein said radiant heating units comprise burners, a housing surrounding said burners and having openings therein adjacent said web,

said burners facing said openings when in heating position,

and means for inducing a flow of air through said housing to supply secondary combustion air to said burners and cool said burners.

10. The combination set forth in claim 8 including a spring loaded detent adapted to engage complementary notches for holding each burner in its heating and nonheating positions.

11. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein said projection has inclined surfaces extending inwardly toward the slot therein.

12. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein said means responsive to said movement of said web includes electrical bridge means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,210,032 8/1940 Hess 2633 X 2,409,431 10/1946 I-Iess 263-3 2,668,700 2/1954 Zimmerman 263-3 2,979,321 4/ 1961 Peterson 263-3 3,022,988 2/1962 Corson et al 263--21 3,124,429 3/ 1964 Alexetf et al. 34-48 FOREIGN PATENTS 872,004 7/1961 Great Britain.

FREDERICK L. MATTESON, 1a., Primary Examiner.

D. A. TAMBURRO, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR HEATING A WEB AS IT IS MOVED CONTINUOUSLY, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF RADIANT HEATING UNITS MOUNTED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID WEB, MEANS FOR MOUNTING EACH HEATING UNIT FOR MOVEMENT FROM A HEATING POSITION ADJACENT THE WEB TO A NONHEATING POSITION, MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE MOVEMENT OF THE WEB FOR SUCCESSIVELY AND SELECTIVELY ENGAGING SAID HEATING UNITS AND MOVING SAID HEATING UNITS OUT OF HEATING RELATION WITH THE WEB AS THE SPEED OF THE WEB LESSENS AND FOR SUCCESSIVELY AND SELECTIVELY ENGAGING AND MOVING SAID HEATING UNITS TO RETURN THEM TO HEATING POSITION AS THE SPEED OF THE WEB INCREASES, SAID LAST-MENTIONED MEANS INCLUDING ENDLESS FLEXIBLE MEANS, AND INTERENGAGING MEANS ON SAID ENDLESS FLEXIBLE MEANS FOR SUCCESSIVELY ENGAGING PORTIONS OF SAID HEATING UNITS. 